Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;gedi two can&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant cultivar is disclosed, characterized by a decorative-type inflorescence, consistent flowering response to short days, blooming consistently after 49 days of short day length, free branching habit, purple ray florets, a very uniform round growth habit, and a large quantity of blooms per flowering branch.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

[0001] The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Dendranthema morifolium.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

[0002] The new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant is hereinafter referredto by the cultivar name ‘GEDI TWO CAN.’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The new cultivar is a product of hybridization of a female parentChrysanthemum plant variety ‘Paularo Lilac’ (undistributed in the UnitedStates) and a male parent Chrysanthemum plant variety ‘Dark Veria’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 10,215). The new cultivar was discovered and selected bythe inventor in October 1997.

[0004] Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by apical tip cuttingand meristem tissue culture was performed in Oxnard, Calif. and hasshown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable andreproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The cultivar ‘GEDI TWO CAN’ has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

[0006] The following traits have been repeatedly observed and aredetermined to be the unique characteristics of ‘GEDI TWO CAN.’ Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘GEDI TWO CAN’ as a new anddistinct Chrysanthemum cultivar:

[0007] 1. Decorative-type inflorescence,

[0008] 2. Consistent flowering response to short days, bloomingconsistently after 49 days of short day length,

[0009] 3. Free branching habit,

[0010] 4. Purple ray florets,

[0011] 5. Very uniform round growth habit, and

[0012] 6. Large quantity of blooms per flowering branch.

[0013] Plants of the new cultivar are similar to plants of the femaleparent variety, ‘Paularo Lilac’ in most horticultural characteristics,however plants of the new cultivar have differently colored ray floretsthan plants of the female parent variety.

[0014] Plants of the new cultivar are similar to plants of the maleparent variety, ‘Dark Veria’ in most horticultural characteristics,however plants of the new cultivar have differently colored ray floretsand the plants naturally bloom earlier than plants of the male parentvariety.

[0015] In comparison to the commercially available variety ‘CLEARGARVZP1’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,300), ‘GEDI TWO CAN’ naturally bloomsearlier and inflorescences of a smaller diameter, more inflorescencesper flowering branch, and lighter colored ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0016] The photograph shows a plant of ‘GEDI TWO CAN’ grown in asix-inch container. One cutting was used in the pot.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0017] In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe plants grown in Oxnard, Calif. during themonth of December and January. The growing temperature ranged from 55°to 68° F. at night to 60° to 75° F. during the day. Measurements andnumerical values represent averages of typical flowering types.

[0018] Botanical classification: Dendranthema morifolium cultivar ‘GEDITWO CAN’.

[0019] Commercial classification: Garden-type Chrysanthemum.

[0020] Parentage: Hybridization of a female parent Chrysanthemum plantvariety, ‘Paularo Lilac’ (undistributed in the United States), and amale parent Chrysanthemum plant variety ‘Dark Veria’ (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 10,215).

PROPAGATION

[0021] Time to rooting: 7 to 14 days at approximately 21° C.'.

[0022] Rooting habit: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

[0023] Growth habit: Mounding herbaceous perennial.

[0024] Height: Approximately 17.3 cm.

[0025] Spread: Approximately 22 cm.

[0026] Growth rate: Moderate.

[0027] Branching characteristics: Free Branching.

[0028] Length of lateral branches: Approximately 19 cm.

[0029] Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 52.

FOLIAGE

[0030] Leaf:

[0031]Arrangement.—Alternate.

[0032]Average length.—Approximately 6.1 cm.

[0033]Average width.—Approximately 5.9 cm.

[0034]Shape of blade.—Ovate.

[0035]Apex.—Cuspidate.

[0036]Base.—Attenuate.

[0037]Attachment.—Stalked.

[0038]Margin.—Palmately lobed.

[0039]Texture of top surface.—Lightly pubescent.

[0040]Texture of bottom surface.—Lightly pubescent.

[0041]Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near 137A. Young foliageunderside: Near 138B. Mature foliage upper side: Near 137A. Maturefoliage underside: Near 138B. Venation upper side: Near 145B. Venationunderside: Near 138C.

[0042]Type.—Net.

[0043] Petiole:

[0044]Average length.—Approximately 2.4 cm.

[0045]Color.—Near 137A.

[0046]Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.

BLOOM

[0047] Inflorescence:

[0048]Flowering habit.—Induced by darkness period greater than 13.5hours, approximately 49 days of appropriate day length required toinduce and develop blooms.

[0049]Inflorescence form.—Decorative.

[0050]Natural flowering season.—Approximately the middle two weeks ofSeptember.

[0051]Number of inflorescences per lateral branch.—Approximately 16.

[0052]Inflorescence diameter.—Approximately 3.8 cm.

[0053]Inflorescence depth.—Approximately 1.5 cm.

[0054]Inflorescence longevity on plant.—Approximately 30 days.

[0055]Persistence.—Persistent.

[0056] Ray florets:

[0057]Appearance.—Matte.

[0058]Texture.—Smooth.

[0059]Average number per flower.—163.

[0060]Shape.—Spatulate.

[0061]Aspect.—Flat.

[0062]Margin.—Entire.

[0063]Apex.—Retuse.

[0064]Length.—Approximately 1.7 cm.

[0065]Width.—Approximately 0.6 cm.

[0066]Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Near 75A. Upper surface atmaturity: Near 75B. Upper surface at fading: Near 75C. Under surface atfirst opening: Near 75A. Under surface at maturity: Near 75A. Undersurface at fading: Near 75C with near 75A around upper outer edge.

[0067] Disc florets:

[0068]Appearance.—Shiny.

[0069]Texture.—Smooth.

[0070]Average number per flower.—Approximately 1.

[0071]Shape.—Cylindrical.

[0072]Apex.—Obtuse.

[0073]Average length.—Approximately 0.5 cm.

[0074]Average width.—Approximately 0.1 cm.

[0075]Color.—At first opening: Near 154A. At maturity: Near 13B. Atfading: Near 13A.

[0076] Peduncle:

[0077]Length.—At terminal end (shortest): Approximately 4.2 cm. Atlateral end (longest): Approximately 7 cm.

[0078]Angle to stem.—Acute.

[0079]Strength.—Moderate.

[0080]Color.—Near 143C.

[0081]Habit.—Upright.

[0082]Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.

[0083] Inflorescence bud:

[0084]Length.—Approximately 0.7 cm.

[0085]Diameter.—Approximately 0.8 cm.

[0086]Form.—Globular.

[0087]Color.—Near 1C.

[0088] Involucral bracts (Phyllaries):

[0089]Appearance.—Matte.

[0090]Texture.—Lightly pubescent.

[0091]Number.—Approximately 90 throughout entire inflorescence.

[0092]Shape.—Oblanceolate.

[0093]Margin.—Entire.

[0094]Apex.—Acute.

[0095]Length.—Approximately 0.7 cm.

[0096]Width.—Approximately 0.2 cm.

[0097]Color.—Upper side: Near 144A. Underside: Near 144A.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

[0098] Ray florets:

[0099]Pistillate.—Number of pistils per flower: 1. Stigma shape: 2branched. Stigma color: Near 9A. Style color: Near 154D. Style length:Approximately 0.5 cm.

[0100] Disc florets (hermaphroditic):

[0101]Pistillate.—Number of pistils per flower: 1. Stigma shape:Two-branched. Stigma color: Near 13A. Style length: Approximately 0.4cm. Style color: Near 154C.

[0102]Staminate.—Number of stamens per flower: 5. Anther shape: Tubular.Anther color: Near 15A. Pollen color: Near 15A.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemumplant named ‘GEDI TWO CAN’ as herein illustrated and described.